News and Events

AP Austin Area Teachers Meeting

A Function Approach:
Teaching algebra from a function approach requires the use of function and function behaviors to teach concepts and skills such as factoring, equation solving, arithmetic operations on polynomials, systems of equations, inequalities, properties of inequalities, definitions, concept of asymptotic behavior, absolute value, slope, laws of exponents, etc. Using unique materials, we will reorder the algebra content and use function concepts to develop understanding of, interest in, and long-term memory of traditional algebraic ideas. We will capitalize on cognitive processes of associations, pattern building, attention, visualizations, meaning, the enriched teaching environment, distributed learning, and priming. We will model how to teach algebra through a function approach with graphing calculators, and demonstrate why they are crucial to teaching and learning. At the Algebra through Function Academy we will use the TI-84 Plus SE, CBL2, CBR2, and Vernier EasyLink, as tools of choice when teaching algebra.

Instructors will be Debbie Crocker, Appalachian State University; and Ed Laughbaum, The Ohio State University. The location of the Academy is on the Outer Banks of North Carolina near the village of Duck at the Army Field Research Facility (FRF). The classroom is adjacent to the beach.

For registration information, please find the form at www.math.ohio-state.edu/~elaughba/ Other information regarding the function approach can be found here as well. Registrations are limited to 35 people. For further information, please email Ed Laughbaum.

Mathworks

Mathworks of Texas State University and the American Mathematics Competitions are pleased to offer mathematically interested middle school students from districts in this region the opportunity to participate in the 2007 AMC 8 contest and experience a day on campus free of charge. The AMC 8 contest, which has been administered nationally since 1985, is given each November to hundreds of thousands of middle school students in the United States and other countries.

If you know of any area middle schools who might be interested in participating, have them contact Beth Pearce at mathworks@txstate.edu for more information.

Thanks,
Bonnie Leitch
AMC 8 Chair